Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON – Republican Del. Kathy Szeliga is facing an uphill battle as she campaigns against popular Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski. An endorsement by popular Gov. Larry Hogan could help her, according to political analyst Todd Eberly with St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Eberly said one of the biggest challenges Republicans face when they run for office in Maryland is the perception that they’re too conservative for most voters. “Larry Hogan was able to overcome that. He’s incredibly popular. So by endorsing Kathy Szeliga, he’s basically sending a message that, you know, she’s my kind of Republican. She’s a candidate that I can get behind,” Eberly said.
Standing by her side at a press conference Tuesday, Hogan said he believes Szeliga can, should and will win the race.
Hogan’s refusal to endorse Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump indicates that he doesn’t just hand out endorsements to every fellow Republican.
While Hogan’s endorsement will give Szeliga a boost, it likely won’t be enough to get her to 50 percent plus one.
“In a presidential election year, the electorate in Maryland is much more heavily Democrat than it is in a mid-term year, which is when Hogan was elected,” said Eberly.
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